Arizona Property & Deed Records

Arizona property documents are recorded by the County Recorder. The recorder maintains deeds, deeds of trust, liens and other real estate instruments. County assessors provide property information and tax values. Arizona counties sell tax lien certificates at annual auctions, allowing investors to earn interest on delinquent taxes.

Where to Search

• County Recorder: Search recorded documents by name, parcel number or document type. Many counties have free online access to deed images and indexes.
• County Assessor: Use the assessor’s parcel search to view ownership, assessed value, tax area codes and parcel maps.
• Treasurer/Tax Lien Sale: The county treasurer conducts an annual tax lien sale, typically in February, where investors bid on the interest rate for delinquent taxes.

Steps to Locate a Deed

1. Find the parcel number through the assessor’s parcel search.
2. Access the county recorder’s online records and search by parcel number or grantor/grantee.
3. View the deed image and note the recording information.
4. Order a certified copy if required.

Arizona Tax Lien Sales

Arizona is a tax lien certificate state. Investors bid down the interest rate they are willing to accept; the lowest bidder wins the certificate and pays the delinquent taxes. Property owners have a redemption period of three years to repay the taxes plus interest. If redemption does not occur, the certificate holder can initiate foreclosure to acquire a treasurer’s deed.

Register for the auction through the county treasurer’s website. Perform due diligence by checking for other liens, IRS taxes or environmental issues.